Police: Suspect was high on bath salts during chase

CRANSTON, R.I. (WPRI) -- Police tell us that a Harrisville man admitted to being high on bath salts when he led police on a chase through two cities, while driving a stolen car.

The pursuit ended near the intersection of Ocean Avenue and Narragansett Boulevard around 11 p.m. Tuesday, when the suspect crashed the car into a home.

Jonathan Goyer, 25, faced a judge in Kent County District Court Wednesday on charges from both state and Cranston police.

Police tell us the chase began in Cranston, went through Warwick, and then back into Cranston, causing all sorts of damage along the way.

"During the pursuit he made side-swipe contact with several police cruisers," said Cranston Police Maj. Robert Ryan.

Maj. Ryan also tells us that towards the end of the pursuit, Goyer hit a sign, drove through some hedges, and went over a wall before coming to a stop. Although, the incident didn't end there.

"He was combative, in fact he assaulted several officers," added Maj. Ryan. "He was charged with several assaults during the incident."

Residents said they're now worried there isn't enough being done to keep the area safe from incidents like this.

“This is a situation where this is a very dangerous intersection and the Edgewood Association has met with the city for the last couple of years, basically begging, please do something about doing some traffic calming in this area and they haven’t,” said Juanna Horton, an eyewitness.

According to officials, the vehicle that crashed had been reported stolen from a 7-Eleven in Smithfield earlier in the evening.

State Police have charged him with assault and driving without a license.

Meanwhile, residents in the Edgewood neighborhood said they have invited Mayor Allan Fung, as well as police, to a meeting next Monday, December 10 to try and make the area safer.

We've learned Goyer has already had his license suspended, and he's now being held without bail as a parole violator.